Aarey Colony police book driver for blackmailing Goregaon businessman for Rs 20 lakh
The Aarey Colony police in Goregaon on Saturday booked a personal driver for allegedly blackmailing his 38-year-old employer with secret photographs and demanding a ransom of ₹20 lakh. The driver allegedly threatened to send the images to the employer's wife if the demand was not met.
The accused, identified as Shailendra Singh, had been working for the victim for the past four years. The complainant works as a location scout for film shoots. Because of his job, Singh regularly accompanied the businessman to various meetings and work assignments.
According to the police, Singh used these opportunities to discreetly take photographs and videos of the businessman, particularly when he was seen interacting with various women.
The alleged blackmail began on July 1. Investigators said Singh used the secretly captured images and videos to threaten his employer. He claimed he would expose the businessman by sharing the photographs with his wife unless he received the extortion money.
While Singh initially demanded ₹20 lakh to remain silent, he later agreed to settle the amount for ₹10 lakh. Fearing the consequences of the photos being shared, the businessman paid Singh an initial instalment of ₹25,000.
The driver allegedly promised to delete all the photographs and videos once the remaining balance was paid. However, instead of paying the remaining amount, the businessman decided to approach the local authorities.
The Aarey Colony police registered a First Information Report (FIR) against Singh on Saturday under Section 308 (extortion) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and launched an investigation.
During the investigation, police officers also learned that the complainant had been in a four-year relationship with a television actress who died by suicide in 2016. The police clarified that this information has no direct bearing on the extortion case, and their investigation remains entirely focused on the blackmail allegations against the driver.
